Colorado tech execs want to hire, but they worry about talent

Technology executives in Colorado are the most likely nationwide to add positions and hire new employees in the next year, but they’re also concerned about a shortage of suitable workers.

An online survey of 1,763 executives co-sponsored by the Colorado Technology Association and the Technology Councils of North America found 70 percent of Colorado technology executives had positive views of the economy.

About 63 percent plan to fill new jobs in the next year, while 72 percent believe there to be a moderate or significant shortage of workers to hire.

"Companies are feeling better about business conditions, but the talent shortage issue has the potential to sidetrack growth,” said Erik Mitisek, CEO of the Colorado association.

Nationally, 63 percent of respondents said they plan to hire for new jobs in the next 12 months, while 69 percent perceive a shortage of technology workers to hire and 25 percent view the shortage as significant.

The opinion about the nation’s overall economy jumped among technology executives compared to 2012, the first year of the survey.

Rating their economic outlook on a 0 to 100 scale, executives nationally rated it 56.4, compared to a 2012 rating of 46.3, the survey said.